Start Up Disk and iMac

Hi Experts,
I bought iMac in Nov '12 & it did not come with a start up disk.
If for a question, my hard disk crashes & requires a new start up disk or requires reinstallation of the Lion OS - how do I do this?
Thanks

Actually, the "start up disk" is the hard drive. The iMac does not come with an installation disk. Instead, you can hold down cmd-R when you reboot to use the Recovery partition:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718
Edited: pipped!
Matt

Similar Messages

HT2476 how do i clean my start up disk and free up space

how do i clean my start up disk and free up space

I have a iMac and desparetly need some freed up space. I have emptied trash for iPhoto, iMail, cleared extra disk images, checked for old printers, and then emptied my trash bin on the desktop. I have 616MB. Most of my space is taken up by photos, video and music that I would like to organize for our family. I have just started in with iMovie and will be working with many of those items, but due to the excessive amount of them, can I can move to an external hard drive and work on only one year at a time? (We have 7 years of digital overload to go through.) Is it easy to work with files once they are moved to an external hard drive? What would the best steps to take from here? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

I have a 2008 macbook and i lost the start up disk and forgot the password. how can i put it back to factory mode and change the password

i have a 2008 macbook and i lost the start up disk and forgot the password. how can i put it back to factory mode and change the password

Check out this article http://gigaom.com/apple/reset-os-x-password-without-an-os-x-cd/

What is my start up disk, and how do i free up space on it? my computer tells me i have to rather often

hey guys, how do i delete files off of my start up disk to free up space? what is my start up disk, and how do I remedy this? thanks for the help

Move items you don't need on it, such as the iTunes and iPhoto libraries, to another drive, verify they work in the new location, and then delete them from the internal drive. If you don't need something at all, drag it to the Trash and empty it.
(89392)

I have a Macbook 2,1 and want to wipe it clean so as I can give it away. I do not have any original start up disks and wondered how I can do this?

I have a Macbook 2,1 and want to wipe it clean so as I can give it away. I do not have any original start up disks and wondered how I can do this?

If your Mac is running 10.6 like your signature says, then the 10.6.3 upgrade disks will work as they contain the full 10.6, you need to hold the option key down to select the disk to boot from.
Once booted from the disk, Disk Utility is there to wipe the drive (use the Security Option > Zero) and then reinstall O S X 10.6.3 and then reboot, press the power button down to hard shutdown and the machine will stay like that to boot into the Welcome to Mac video for the next owner to setup.
How to erase and install Snow Leopard 10.6
How do I securely delete data from the machine?

I'm trying to use bootcamp assistant and I keep getting an error message saying I need at least 10gb available on my start up disk and I have 27gb available. Any suggestions?

I'm trying to use bootcamp assistant and I keep getting an error message saying I need at least 10gb available on my start up disk and I have 27gb available. Any suggestions?

That is not what it says, please post the exact and complete message, take a screenshot.

I have a G5 imac that is using Disk Warrior as the start up disk and can't change back.

I am using a G5 imac (OS 10.4.8 I think the last update is) and I was attempting to use Disk Warrior to recover a lost file. On my other Macs you made Disk Warrior the start up disk to use it, which I did here but I think that was a mistake. Now I can't change back to the regular start up disk.
I tried starting in safe mode but I think I'm getting kernel panic because it goes to a gray screen and tells me to restart.

I don't think Disk Warrior does file recovery. See:
Basics of File Recovery
Files in Trash
If you simply put files in the Trash you can restore them by opening the Trash (left-click on the Trash icon) and drag the files from the Trash to your Desktop or other desired location. OS X also provides a short-cut to undo the last item moved to the Trash -press COMMAND-Z.
If you empty the Trash the files are gone. If a program does an immediate delete rather than moving files to the Trash, then the files are gone. Recovery is possible but you must not allow any additional writes to the hard drive - shut it down. When files are deleted only the directory entries, not the files themselves, is modified. The space occupied by the files has been returned to the system as available for storage, but the files are still on the drive. Writing to the drive will then eventually overwrite the space once occupied by the deleted files in which case the files are lost permanently. Also if you save a file over an existing file of the same name, then the old file is overwritten and cannot be recovered.
General File Recovery
If you stop using the drive it's possible to recover deleted files that have not been overwritten by using recovery software such as Data Rescue II, File Salvage or TechTool Pro. Each of the preceding come on bootable CDs to enable usage without risk of writing more data to the hard drive. Two free alternatives are Disk Drill and TestDisk. Look for them and demos at MacUpdate or CNET Downloads.
The longer the hard drive remains in use and data are written to it, the greater the risk your deleted files will be overwritten.
Also visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on Data Recovery.

Won't start from Start up Disk- Dead iMac - help!!

Hi,
My iMac at work died today, first it crashed and then the hard disk began to spin and then the fan cut in and it sounded like a jumbo taking off. I used the power switch to turn off, waited a minute turned it back on and it then hung at the blue screen. Did this again two or three times but it still hung, sometimes in different places but always after the apple screen and the spinning thing. I then loaded the system disk and started it up, it loaded the install software screen and then crashes. I started the machine in "Safe Mode", it started properly but then crashed as soon as I tried to anything. I even loaded the startup cd in safe mode but it did the same.
The machine is very basic first generation iMac, no bluetooth, 160gb hd, 17inch 1.6gig 256 meg ram. Using Panther fully updated using Software Update. Nothing special.
Apple Care just wanted £35.00 from me before they would even tell me if I could take it direct to my local Apple Store - I say local but it would be a 100 mile round trip so I thought it best to check first.
Help, I can't even start from start up disk!!!!

Hugo, I had the same thing happen twice. The first thing I did is run the hardware diagnostics to determine if the disk had totally crapped out. This test passed on both occurrences. I then tried to repair the disk by booting from the install disk (hold down the 'c' key while booting) and using the disk utility. The first time I had the problem this fixed it. Last night it happened for the second time, this time repairing the disk failed. I had to erase the disk, reinstall the OS and upgrades and load user files from backup. One tip, don't call AppleCare unless you really want to be annoyed. I had some useless tech explain to me how the hard drive was analogous to a library, the librarian goes home at night with all the books properly in place and some kids come in and move all the books around. When the librarian comes in the next day she cannot do anything because the location of the books do not match the locations identified in her book catalog. So I asked, who these 'kids' are that messed up my disk. He said this just happens. Well this has just happened to this computer twice in a month and its old 9 months old. I have 3 PCs running that have never had this problem, one is 8 years old. One more thing AppleCare categorizes this problem as a software issue, not hardware, so it is not covered, even though it's Apple's software that failed ! You either have to fix it yourself or pay someone to do it for you. Sorry for the digression (as you can tell I'm a little frustrated with Apple), when I was just about done loading user files from backup, the iMac died, will not power backup, nothing, just dead. This is after I just spent 4 hours erasing the disk and reinstalling software and files. Guess I do have a hardware problem now.
Good luck

Getting a replacement start up disk for imac

How to get a replacement start up disk for my imac?
I lost the original startup disk and the mac didn't start up, only with "?" folder.

Call Apple technical support. They can probably sell you a new set of the original disks for a reasonable fee, if your iMac did come with installation disks (Macs that shipped with OS X 10.7 or 10.8 did not come with disks).
Regards.

Where can I find the Start up disk and how can I delete file from it.

where can I find the Start up disk on theMac Book Air?
How can I delete files from it?

The startup disk is the internal SSD in your MBA. You may delete files by draging the file to Trash (or clicking on them and then execute COMMAND+Delete). Then empty Trash.
Ciao.

START UP DISK AND CANNOT CREATE FILE

hi!
I've read about 10 posts and a million suggestions about cleaning up my start up disk cause it's full but nothing has worked yet... Many also recommened some apps to download to help erase things but, my computer isn't letting me download anything.. the downloads box thing says, "cannot create file" and I'm pretty sure it's saying that because of my start up disk being full.. I don't know much about computers but--- I mean, that makes sense, right? HELP HELP HELP. I've made sure my downloads are set to download to my desktop and yes it has the read/write option thing selected..etc etc.
HELP!!!!

Hello KaylaJ,
You'll need to boot from another hard drive or system disk.
If you have the original disks that came with the machine, stick it in the cd tray, close it and reboot holding c.
Next you'll have to delete or move files to another hard drive, once it's copied over by drag and drop methods, delete the original on your boot drive to free up space.
In fact I would take the precaution of backing up all your user data, iTunes folder, "User"/Library/Mail and "User"/Library/Safari folders. Leaving apps that you have the original install disks/sources and associated passwords.
If you want to take a step further, you might as well erase the boot drive by selecting Disk Utility from the menu (c booted from the System Disk) and chose the option to Erase with Zero. (warning all data will be totally deleted). Come back after lunch and reinstall Tiger fresh, immediatly Software Update until clear and reinstall your apps from original sources (if all possible) and update.
Then hook up the second hard drive and copy only security sensitive files into your User/Home. Leaving the bulk of files on the second drive. This leaves the boot drive rather light (keep under 50% filled) and Mac OS X will perform snappy.
Also because you reinstalled totally, you optimized your boot drive and got rid of old garbage.
Investigate how to clone your now perfect boot drive by visiting Carbon Copy Cloner forums, just in case something happens you can hold option and boot from a external drive.
If this is too much for you, search Apple main page for "Macintosh User Groups" and find a person near you to help you set up a optimized and backup solution.

Start up disk and hard drive almost full i have tried clearing things but it is not working it says its full from (other)

Hi so I keep getting pop up messages saying that my start up disk is almost full. SO I go into my Macintosh and try to erase some things however it isnt freeing any space most of the storage has been filled up by the word (other). Not movies or music but (other) not too sure what it is? please help

“Other" includes everything that is not audio, movies, photos, apps and backups. In other words it includes the OS, mail, documents... See http://pondini.org/OSX/LionStorage.html and What is "Other" and What Can I Do About It? and Apple Support Communities https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-5142
Also see Where did my disk space go: http://pondini.org/OSX/DiskSpace.html
For hints on how to free disk/SSD storage see
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5872318?tstart=0
and
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5939678?tstart=60

Powerbook G4 stopped working it cuts on but no spinning disc symbol..won't run I installed the start up disk and it starts up but disk first aid says there is something wrong can't repair it..what do I do now? Do I erase everything and start over?

The G4 comes on but that is as far as it goes...I installed the startup disc it started and I tried disk first aid but it says it can't be repaired????If I erase everything will this fix the problem as well as make me lose everything?
The firsat aid box says:
" REPAIRING DISK FOR "HARD DRIVE"
checking HFS Plus volume
Checking events Overflowfile
Checking catalog file
Invalid node structure ( this is in RED )
rebuilding catalog B-tree
The volume Hard drive can not be repaired ( in red)
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit (-9972_) (in red)
REPAIR ATTEMPTED ON 1 VOLUME
0HFS volume repaired ( in green)
1 volume could not be repaired (in red)
[email protected] feel free to send email thanks

Bryan,
Do you have a second hard drive? If you can get the install disk to boot the computer then all is not lost. Install a clean system on a second hard drive to get back in business. If you have any backup copies of your software and files, use them to restore your computer to good working condition.
Then, install some form of data recovery software on your second drive. The recovery software can look at a bit mapped version of your drive and extract data that may be scrambled but usable. Think of the drive as a book. If someone tore out a few pages from the table of contents or index from a book, the main volume would be there but the book would not be repairable. Or, if the table of contents is OK but someone tore out a chapter or two, the other chapters would be there. The book is not complete but all is not lost.
Here is a review to get you up to speed:
http://data-recovery-software-review.toptenreviews.com/mac-recovery-software/
Start by getting your computer working off a clean install on a second drive so the data recovery process will work faster and have a destination for the recovered data.
Jim~
btw, it is better to list your email as follows: sssail3 at aol dot com. That format protects agains trolling for email addresses.

Lion and separate start up disk and or drive

I'd like to defrag my internal drive which now has Lion on it. I have several external drives I can make as alternate start up drives but with Lion I don't know how. I do not have any CD's that I can start up from.....
Any assistance would be great:)
Shelley

Lion is new and fast and does not require defrag incase if you do not suffer from a SLOW Mac
but If your Mac is slow & is running out of space, defragmentation will help you. defragging your internal drive(Macintosh HD) you can.there is one application called Stellar Drive Defrag which can defrag your boot drive by creating a bootable DVD which can used to boot the system and defrag your boot drive... The software supports Lion.

Start up disk and "Other"

I was asked by my MacBook Pro to kindly delete some content from my startup disk. How do I do that?
What is all of the "Other" on my HD? I have 75G worth of it. How Do I Reduce that?

Freeing Up Space on The Hard Drive
1. See Lion's Storage Display.
2. You can remove data from your Home folder except for the /Home/Library/ folder.
3. Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on freeing up space on your hard drive.
4. Also see Freeing space on your Mac OS X startup disk.
5. See Where did my Disk Space go?.
6. See The Storage Display.
You must Empty the Trash in order to recover the space they occupied on the hard drive.
You should consider replacing the drive with a larger one. Check out OWC for drives, tutorials, and toolkits.
Other simply refers to files that don't fit in the other defined categories and includes system files you should not delete as well as your own data files in your Home folder.

Start Up Disk and iMac

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